Community Turns Out For Birthday Surprise

CHRISTOPHER CREEK

About 65 friends and family members showed up in Mimi Tidwell's back yard Oct. 1 to surprise her on her 85th birthday. According to her daughter, Rosie Elston, Donna and Jessie Wynn, along with Karen Brown and Rosie's husband Dave planned the surprise party and managed to get Mimi out of the house for a few hours so guests could arrive and hide. Mimi was totally surprised and excited when she returned home and found her back yard full of friends and family.

It's that time of year again. The leaves are turning colors and some are falling off the trees. The little ones are getting their Halloween costumes ready, and I am looking to see if anyone has any orange decorations up. My decorations have been up for two weeks now. I wanted a head start because there is so much to put on display.

Mikey Marazza photo

Mimi Tidwell proudly shows off the cake made for the surprise party
family and friends gave her for her 85th birthday.

Debbie Aschbrenner, owner of Tall Pines Market, has a ton of orange pumpkins for sale. They look really nice lying around decorating the store. As my daughter and I took our ride around the community, we didn't see a lot of decorations yet. The first place we came to with orange was Vicki Grootegoed's. She had quite a few large pumpkins on her wall and some lights. As we headed down Columbine, we came to Mel and Pam Milhon's, and they had witches, ghosts and black cats. We headed up Hillcrest to check out Karen and Sam Seay's place. They had some large pumpkins, but said by next week they would have everything ready. Back down to the other end of Columbine, we saw that Karen Thorton had some pumpkins and really pretty mums on her stairs and Mimi Tidwell had scarecrows outside. I will keep you posted on who is decorating what.

Mark your calendars for the Children's Annual Halloween Party on Saturday, Oct. 29. The Christopher Creek Homeowners Association sponsors this event. Trick or Treaters should arrive at the Landmark by 4 p.m. in their costumes for hot dogs and chips. The costume contest will be at 4:30 p.m. By 5 p.m., they will be loading up the trailer for Trick or Treating through the community. If you are interested in treating the little goblins, make sure your front porch light is on. The trailer route covers Apple Lane and Columbine Road, with stops at Tall Pines Market and Creekside for a costume parade. The trailer should return to the Landmark around 7 p.m. with candy-filled kids.

Have you ever been on a trailer for two hours with 50 screaming kids who ate enough candy to keep the energizer bunny going for a month? I have been on that trailer for about 12 years now. Want to have fun? Call Judy Tolle at (928) 478-0508 for more information.

The Halloween House Contest will be that same night, Saturday, Oct. 29 at 7 p.m. A panel of judges will view the Halloween decorations around the community and give out some really nice prizes. So, get busy and start hanging all those spooky lights and scary decorations for the judges. Remember to make sure your lights are on that evening.

This Saturday, Oct. 8 from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. there is a community garage sale. Set up is at Creekside and the Landmark parking lot. It's free to set up. What you haul in, you must haul out, though. This is the perfect time to clean out the garage and make some money, or just come out and buy something.